Chapter 5 Alex sat by the phone , his legs swinging anxiously as he waited for it to ring . These days , it had become a routine … listening to Lindas sweet voice every morning . It was the highlight of his day , something he eagerly anticipated . Young Master , these are the tonics Luna instructed you to take . The maid entered , carefully balancing a bowl of dark , glossy liquid on a silver tray . Alex wrinkled his nose at the sight . The tonic , brewed from the rare Spectral Forest Fruit , had a deep black hue that made it look more like a potion than a health drink appearanc Despite its ominous the brew carried a faint sweetness and was prized for its ability to fortify a werewolfs physique . Nora had risked her safety patrolling the borders to gather these rare fruits . She had even faced danger to bring them back , all for Alexs well being . But Alex didnt care . Im not drinking that . He pushed the bowl away with an expression of pure disgust . Just then , the phone rang- His sulky demeanor vanished in an instant , replaced by bright excitement as he scrambled to answer . Aunt Linda ! he whined the moment he picked up . Moms making me drink that sylphon fruit soup again . Lindas voice , smooth and warm like honey , came through the line . Alex , youre a big boy now , she teased lightly . You have the right to say no . Then , with a mischievous lilt , she added , Next time we meet , Ill take you out for your favorite drink .. or maybe even a little wine . Hows that sound ? Want to try a real grown up challenge , little man ? Chapter 5 Wine ? Really ? Alexs eyes lit up , and he practically bounced on his heels . Nora had always been strict , forbidding him from touching alcohol until he came of age . But Aunt Linda ? She understood him . She loved him in a way that felt freeing and fun . I want wine ! I definitely want wine ! Lindas laughter rang through the phone , but then her tone softened . Alex , theres something else I need to tell you . What is it ? Its my birthday next week , she said . And I might have to go out of town for a trip , so I wont be able to call you every day … Alex froze . After the call ended , panic set in . He stormed straight into Arnolds office , clutching a glossy travel brochure in his hand . Aunt Lindas leaving next week ! he blurted out . What are we going to do , Dad ? Someone mustve invited her before we did ! Arnold barely glanced up from the stack of papers on his desk . Alex stared at him in disbelief . Father , how can you be so calm about this ? His voice rose as his eyes began to sting . Ive been planning this forever ! Im supposed to surprise her ! I want to go on that trip with Linda , and no one .. is taking her away from me ! Finally , Arnold set his pen down and looked at his son . Ill take care of it , he said simply . Alex blinked . Chapter S What do you mean ? As far as I know . Arnold sald with a smirk , she doesnt know were going to invite her yet . Shes just planning to travel on her own . Ill invite her first , Really ? Alexs face lit up again . Dad , youre the best ! Aunt lening to have the greatest ever ! Later , back in his room , Alex was still buzzing with excitement . surprise He threw himself onto his bed , grabbed his travel brochure , and began sketching out their trip plans with childlike enthusiasm . Heres a polished and embellished version of your text : Then , as if struck by a sudden thought , Alex remembered Nora . For the past few days , he had been in unusually high spirits . His mother hadnt called once , and the absence of her constant check ins had felt like a breath of fresh nir . In truth , Alex had been deliberately avoiding her calls . Whenever he heard the phone ring , he would let it buzz until it fell silent , pretending not to notice . It was easier that way .. no nagging , no endless questions , no bowls of tonic soup forced into his hands . What Alex didnt realize , however , was that none of those calls had actually been from Nora . After a few days of dodging the phone , guilt started to creep in . What if his mom found out he had been ignoring her ? What if she got mad ? Reluctantly , Alex stopped his little game and began answering the phone again … only to discover that none of the calls were from her . At first , he brushed it off . It was a relief , even . No lectures . No hovering . He felt free . But as the days passed , a strange unease began to settle in his chest . Alex had always assumed he was the center of his moms universe . She loved him more than anything he was sure of it . Nora would never stay angry or abandon him , no matter what . And yet , beche was , staring at a silent phone . For the first time in days , Alex found himself missing her . He missed her sharp tone , her constant reminders , even the way she fussed over him like he was still a The house felt quieter without her voice echoing through it . Before he knew it , Alex had walked over to the phone and started dialing her number . His fingers hovered over the buttons . Then he froze , in just a few days , he and his dad would be traveling with Aunt Linda , And Alex knew exactly how Nora felt about Aunt Linda . She was always jealous whenever Linda was around , always finding reasons to keep him close and cut Linda out of the picture . If she came back now , she would definitely interfere with their plans . Worse , she might convince his dad to cancel the trip entirely . And if that happened , Alex wouldnt get to spend as much time with Aunt Linda as he wanted . He hesitated , his hand trembling slightly as he debated what to do . Meanwhile , on the other side of town , Nora was immersed in her work . Her desk was cluttered with papers and sketches , evidence of the effort she had poured into reigniting her dreams . Then , her phone rang . Startled , she glanced at the screen and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Alexs name flash across the caller ID . Chapter G Chapter 6 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!